Caught Up in 5:

1. Cameras on or off? How remote team policies are dividing opinion 📹
2. NI small businesses urged to unlock the untapped workforce 💼
3. No salary, no applicants as UK follows EU lead on pay transparency 💸
4. 'R' is for Reasonable Adjustments 🧠
5. Hub Subscribers grab your 2 free places! 🎉

In other news................our Annual Review of Employment Law is back, turning all those headline grabbing legal changes into plain English before they turn up uninvited in your inbox, with top legal minds and sharp HR insight in Belfast or online on 5th November 2026. First sessions are now live ⚖️

1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Skill Builder for HR: Workplace Coaching Skills
4. Recruitment
5. Mental Health & Wellbeing
6. ADHD has rewired the workplace. This is what it means for bosses and workers
7. Jobseekers avoid roles without salary details as UK Follows EU lead on pay transparency
8. Burnham urged to boost protection for civil servants with bullying complaints
9. Just in Case You Missed It...
10. HR Developments
11. Employment News in the Media
12. GB Developments
13. Free Webinars This Month

Manokar v KPMG Ireland [2026] NIIT 32632/25

Summary Description: 

Claimant’s claim was some 8 months out of time and it was held that time could not be extended; an argument that there was an ongoing internal appeal was not a successful one.

Claimant: 

Mogana Tashiani Manokar

Respondent: 

KPMG Ireland

Practical Guidance for Employers:

Another case relating to time limits and the statutory time limits that apply in the Tribunal.  The argument of an ongoing internal appeal was raised here but it should be made clear that such internal appeals does not stop time from running nor does it have an impact in relation to the Tribunal’s reasoning especially when an individual is aware or ought to be aware of the requisite time limits.

Read the Review in full: 
Manokar v KPMG Ireland [2026]

Wolfe v Taka Mayfair Ltd [2026] EAT 106

Summary Description: 

Where the claimant was not informed of a right to be accompanied but did not request to be accompanied – there was no claim against the employer’s action as the duty only arose when it was requested.

Claimant: 

Leonardo Wolfe

Respondent: 

Taka Mayfair Ltd

Practical Guidance for Employers:

A case relating to the right to be accompanied which is central to how many of the procedures within employment law function.  In this setting though, which was well before the right not to be unfairly dismissed had crystallised, the legislation in England and Wales put the onus on the employee to reasonably request the right to be accompanied and it is only then that the duty is on the employer to ensure that it is facilitated.

Read the Review in full: 
Wolfe v Taka Mayfair Ltd [2026]

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These case reviews were written by Jason Elliott BL.  NI Tribunal decisions are available on the OITFET website.

If you have any queries or wish to comment on the reports please feel free to contact Jason at: jasondelliott@outlook.com 

Jason Elliott was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2013 and is the Associate Head of School of Law at Ulster University. As a practising barrister, he has developed a largely civil practice representing individuals, companies and public bodies in litigation.  This covers a wide range of areas including personal injuries, wills and employment law. In terms of employment law, he has represented both applicants and respondents in the Industrial Tribunal.   At Ulster University, Jason lectures extensively on the civil areas of practise such as Equity and Trusts and delivers employment law lectures for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Remember: Our case law reviews are held in our case law section on our fully-searchable employment law hub website.

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How Meta chose workers for layoffs: sworn court filing reveals the decision process

When Meta announced another round of layoffs in May, many employees were left wondering how the company had decided who would lose their jobs. Some former workers claimed artificial intelligence played a role. Others questioned whether employees on parental leave or those holding company-sponsored visas had been unfairly affected. A new sworn court filing has now provided the clearest account yet of how Meta says those decisions were made. You can read more on this story from the International Business Times.

Three-quarters see AI skills as baseline requirement

More than three-quarters of employers will see AI proficiency as a baseline expectation over the next two years, according to research from software company HiBob. Seventy-seven per cent of organisations will view AI skills as standard, even for non-technical roles, its survey found. You can read more from Personnel Today.

AI for HR Weekly Podcast with Barry Phillips 🎙️

This week's episode:

Hub subscribers are beginning to request that our Chairman, Barry covers a particular AI topic in a future podcast. If you have a request, send it to him directly at barry@legal-island.com - he’ll feel like a DJ from the 80s…...🎧

You can tune into the latest episode right here - or, if you’re on the move, why not take us with you?

Listen on all major platforms: 🎧 Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Simply search for “AI for HR Weekly Podcast” and enjoy expert insights anytime, anywhere.

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Skill Builder for HR: Workplace Coaching Skills

📅DATE: 26 August 2026

🕒 12:30 - 14:00 (1 hour 30 mins)

📍 Live online 
 
Led by Marie Ferris of Thrive Coaching & Development, this practical Skill Builder session will help you develop workplace coaching skills you can apply immediately to performance conversations, employee development, and manager support. You'll leave with a simple framework and techniques to make your conversations more focused, productive, and impactful.

Your Skill Builder perk is back: 

• Get 2 free places at this Autumn’s Skill Builder for HR sessions. Even if you used your Spring allocation.
• Multi-user subscribers: each named user gets their own free places.
• Share with colleagues using code "HubGift". Just add places to your cart and enter the code at checkout for £0.
• Check your recent email for session details and claiming instructions (and your spam folder, just in case).

Find out more about all the upcoming Skill Builder for HR sessions HERE. 

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Northern Ireland small businesses urged to help tackle economic inactivity as new report highlights untapped workforce

Research by the Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland (FSB NI), in partnership with Ulster University through EPIC Futures NI, has identified a range of measures that could help SMEs recruit people currently outside the labour market while also easing ongoing skills and staffing pressures. The report, ‘Empowering Employers – Turning Recruitment Barriers into Opportunities’, found that while many small businesses are open to widening their recruitment approach, practical barriers including cost pressures, limited resources and uncertainty around available support are preventing more employers from doing so. More from the News Letter.

Right to work checks – new rules from October 2026

From 1 October 2026, the Home Office’s draft Code of Practice will expand the regime beyond traditional employees to include contractors, casual and agency workers, gig economy staff, and individual subcontractors. This change implements Section 48 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, closing gaps that have allowed modern working arrangements to bypass checks. You can read more on this from HR Director.

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Young civil servant’s death prompts call for workplace mediation before formal discipline

The death of civil servant Chloe Moffat has prompted calls for workplace mediation to become part of government disciplinary procedures, a leading employment solicitor has urged. The call comes after the Treasury announced plans to reform its disciplinary procedures after Chloe took her own life, having become convinced she would lose her job following a disciplinary meeting. More from Personnel Today.

HMRC trainee awarded £155k after employer failed to make reasonable adjustments for mental health issues

The Cardiff tribunal heard that Mr R Wickham – who was training to become a criminal investigator in HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service – told his manager in March 2021 that he was experiencing depression, anxiety and what his GP described as symptoms “similar” to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An occupational health report found his condition had "undoubtedly" affected his performance and recommended a reduced workload, but the tribunal found HMRC failed to implement the adjustment – despite knowing his mental health symptoms were affecting his training. You can read more on this from People Management.

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Taking one of the UK's biggest grocery chains to an employment tribunal was something that Ryan Toghill says almost took over his life. Ultimately, he was awarded more than £45,000 when the judge found his former employer hadn't fully taken his ADHD diagnosis into account during the disciplinary process. More from the BBC.

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Employers hiring workers in Europe are being warned that failing to disclose salary information puts them at a competitive disadvantage and a growing compliance risk, as EU Member States begin implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the UK government consults on similar reforms of its own. HR Director has more on this.

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Union calls for introduction of “fully independent” process to deal with concerns about ministerial behaviour. Civil Service World has more on this story.

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The Employment Law Hub is a comprehensive, jurisdiction-specific resource designed for HR professionals, legal advisors, and business leaders. It centralises essential employment law and HR updates, expertly curated and written by leading HR and legal specialists to provide reliable, practical, and authoritative insights. We have over 700+ in depth articles and 1000+ case law reviews. As a subscriber, you have access to all of this. Check it out the full Hub here and below are some recent articles you may have missed.....

'R' is for Reasonable Adjustments

Creating an inclusive workplace is not simply about complying with employment law. It is about ensuring that talented employees are able to contribute fully and effectively, regardless of any disability or long-term health condition. In Northern Ireland, this principle is underpinned by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), which places a legal duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments where a disabled employee or job applicant would otherwise be placed at a substantial disadvantage. Caroline Eakin of AAB has more here. 

What you may not know about the Fair Employment Act – 50 years on…

Fifty years ago this week, the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976 received Royal Assent, a pivotal moment in the journey towards fairer and more inclusive workplaces. It laid the foundations for tackling discrimination in employment and promoting equality of opportunity across Northern Ireland. Read our latest article here. 

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Making salary sacrifice car schemes a trusted employee benefit

Salary sacrifice car schemes can strengthen employee benefits and support the move to electric vehicles, but their success depends on more than tax savings. Sohrob Aslanbeigi of Fleet Operations explains how HR can make schemes affordable, accessible and easy to manage, while ensuring employees understand the long-term commitment and receive the right support when circumstances change. HR Director has more.

Do ‘cameras on’ policies help or hinder remote teams?

While requiring that cameras be switched on could be argued to boost employee engagement and enable greater connection within remote teams, a recent tribunal ruling has highlighted that it can also negatively impact the wellbeing of some employees and expose organisations to legal risk if reasonable adjustments are not considered. In light of a recent tribunal decision, People Management explores how employers should handle online meetings.

Small injury, serious liability: Why minor workplace cuts are triggering bigger employer claims

Workplace accidents are often associated with serious falls, heavy machinery incidents or life-changing injuries. Yet some of the most common employer liability claims begin with something far less dramatic: a cut to the hand or finger. For many workers, a cut may appear to be nothing more than an inconvenience requiring a plaster or a few stitches. However, when that injury could have been prevented, it raises much bigger questions about workplace safety, employer responsibility and legal liability. Legal Futures has more on this.

Great leaders know which emotions their feedback will trigger

Across more than a decade of research on learning from errors, we have found a consistent pattern: people do not learn from errors simply because they receive feedback. Whether mistakes become learning opportunities depends largely on the emotional response they trigger, which determines whether people learn or shut down. This article from Harvard Business Review explains how.

Are employers finally embracing visible ink or are workers still being forced to cover up?

With an estimated 40% of UK adults now having at least one tattoo, attitudes are gradually changing. However, recruiters and employers continue to weigh concerns about corporate image, customer perception and workplace policies in this article from the International Business Times.

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A former employee at a City firm is trying to crowdfund £150,000 to mount a legal challenge against his sacking over social media posts. Dan Cooper was senior HR business partner for CMS Cameron McKenna but was dismissed last year over posts which emerged after he announced he was trying to stand as a Reform UK candidate in council elections. Cooper said his X handle did not mention his employment but stated he was anti-Islam and believed there are only two genders. More from the Law Gazette.

TSB staff could bring employment tribunal claims over plans to require employees to work from the office three days a week, after an independent union warned it was preparing legal challenges on behalf of members unable to comply for health or personal reasons. The Independent Union for TSB Staff (TBU) said “all roads are going to lead back to employment law” following the bank’s decision to introduce a mandatory three-day office attendance policy from April 2027 as part of Santander UK’s integration of the business. More from Personnel Today.

The BBC reports charities across the South East of England are worried they will not be able to pay staff and suppliers after being cut off from their online bank accounts. CAF Bank, which is based in West Malling in Kent and serves more than 14,000 non-profit causes UK-wide, said its online services had been suspended since 24 July following reports of suspected cyber fraud.

The Guardian reports workers at one of the world’s leading art and design museums are balloting for “heatwave” strike action. The ballot at V&A is taking place because of concerns about soaring temperatures and access to drinking water, along with pay and conditions. More than 300 workers at four V&A sites in London – the museum in South Kensington, V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse in Stratford, and Young V&A in Bethnal Green – are taking part in the ballot.

Spain's High Court ordered H&M to immediately halt daily bag inspections of last-shift workers and monthly random ‌locker searches, ruling on Monday that they violated employees' privacy rights. The court, ruling on a lawsuit brought by trade unions UGT and CCOO, found H&M failed to ⁠prove losses from employee theft justified the intrusive controls. Reuters has more.

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NB: Please note these articles relate to GB and do not apply in Northern Ireland, unless otherwise stated.

Equal Pay: Government consults on reform proposals

The Government has published a consultation on “comprehensive reform of the current equal pay framework so that it works better for workers, businesses, and the justice system”. According to the consultation, the need for such comprehensive reform is clear: the existing system, it says, is “excessively complex, costly, and protracted”, fails to provide the data needed to reliably and efficiently identify discriminatory pay practices, and places too much of the burden of enforcing the law on individuals. More here from Wiggin.

The consultation can be found here.

Employment Rights Act: Changing key contract terms in GB will be harder from January 2027

The Employment Rights Act 2025 (“ERA 2025”) introduces a new regime that restricts how employers can change certain core contractual terms, with the key provisions now expected to commence on 1 January 2027. Historically, if an employer decided to implement contractual changes for its workforce and employees did not agree to the change, the option was available to dismiss the objecting employees and offer them, or a new employee, new contracts on the updated terms. The ERA 2025 will make such dismissals automatically unfair, where dismissal is used to impose what the ERA 2025 defines as “restricted variations”, unless the employer meets a limited financial difficulties exemption. Chambers has more.

DWP launches four pilot schemes to reform ‘broken’ fit note system

The Department for Work and Pensions has launched four fit note pilot schemes designed to replace the current tick-box exercise with a more proactive, personalised approach to work and health support. From July 2026, four pilots will operate through selected NHS Work Well sites, backed by £3 million in funding, and will cover up to 100,000 appointments. Crucially, they will test different models to see what works best. In areas like Birmingham and Solihull, GPs will issue an initial fit note before referring patients to a support service led by non-clinical staff, including social prescribers. However, in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and Lancashire and South Cumbria, GPs will refer patients directly to a support service, completely bypassing the traditional fit note. More here from HR Director.

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Employment Law at 11: Theft, Fraud & Dishonesty at Work

Sponsored by HRLocker 

📅7th August 2026 
⏰11am
📍Live online | Free to attend

From retail losses to employee fraud investigations, workplace dishonesty is an issue making headlines across multiple sectors.

Join Legal Island’s Christine Quinn and Seamus McGranaghan of O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors at the next Employment Law at 11 for a session on what employers can (and can't) do when theft or dishonesty allegations arise.

We'll cover:

• The legal threshold for dismissal
• Handling disciplinary and criminal investigations at the same time
• What happens after dismissal

REGISTER HERE

Can't wait til then? Catch up with the last webinar.........

Employment Law at 11 - Real Cases, Real Lessons

Sponsored by HRLocker

If you didn't get to join Seamus McGranaghan, O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors & Christine Quinn, Legal Island in the latest Employment Law at 11 as they discussed NI caselaw - shoplifters, swearing and ChatGPT, don't worry - you can catch up here.

Enjoy your weekend!

Legal Island

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